Heating device for open fireplaces



J. S. NICHOLS HEATING DEVICE FOR OPEN VFIREPLAGEIS Nov. 6 1923.

Original Filed June 7, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SEEEEEEE w W m a J. s. NICHOLS HEATING DEVICE FOR OPEN FmEPLAcfis 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 7 Reissuecl Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES Re. 15,717 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. NICHOLS, Oi -ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO NIC-HEA'IEB CORPORATION,

OF ATLANTA. ZGEORGIA, A CORPORATION OF GEORGIA.

HEATING navron roa ornu FIREPLACES.

Original No. 1,370,348, dated March 1, 1921, Serial No. 302,456, filed June 7, 1919. AppIication for reissue filed March 1,-1923. Serial No. 622,210.

To allcvkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. NIoHoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Heating Devices for Open Fireplaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating devices for rooms, apartments and the like and particularly to an open grate heater, and the primary object of the' invention is to provide a heating device of the class specified adapted to be readily arranged in a fire place and in operation having a relatively high heating efiiciency. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structureembodying means for utilizing the heat of the products of combustion which are caused to circulate or to pass therethrough to a smoke outlet or chimney from a grate, and to so expose the heat conducting components of the improved heating device as to practically heat a room or apartment with material economy in the use of fuel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heatin means of the class 5 ecified arranged for e circulation of pr nets of combustion and gases from a grate therethrough and to re'vent burning paper and other material t at may be carried up toward the chimney or smoke outlet from passing into the latter and thereby preventing ignition of soot or other deposits within the chimney. With these and other objects and advantages, the invention consists in certain improvements embodying the construction and arrangement of arts which Wlll be hereinafter more fully escribed and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire place showing the improved open grate heater mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through a portion of a fire place and chimne and the'improved open grate heater.

Figs. 3, L, 5 and 6 are detail views of different parts of the improved heater. 7

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7, Fig. 8, showing a modification of a part of the heater.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of a portion of the modified structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8 taken in the plane of the line 9-9, Fig. 8, and particularly illustratinga heat damper or cut-ofl.

-The open grate heater embodying the features of the invention obviate certain disadvantages found to exist in using the common form of open grateheaters and fire places, by avoiding principally the escape of smoke and gasses into the room or apartment where it is installed. The improved heater also provides means for efiicien-tly controlling the combustion of the fuel and the utilization of the products of combustion by radiation of the heat thereof as a heating means instead of allowing such products to immediately pass off into the chimney or smoke outlet. The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, but it will be understood that it is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent parts are contemplated and will be included within the scope of the claims. f

The improved open grate heater comprises a frame 5 which is arranged around the fire provided with a cross bar 6 a short distance below the top for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained, and also with a basket grate 7 held within the fire place 8, and con-' nected to the lower portion of the frame at a suitable distance above the base of the fire place in any preferred manner.

The grate 7 is particularly constructed to reduce the charge of fuel necessary to fill the same relatively to that required to fill the ordinary formof basket grate, and to provide for lateral draft through the fuel charge in opposite directions, as well as vertically and a more complete consumption of the fuel and a consequent economy in the use thereof with a comparatively greater heatin efii ciency relatively-to a iven amount 0 fuel. Toadapt the improve ate to the advantageous services specifie it is formedwith a central substantiall triangular .recess 9 openingthrough the ront, bottom and rear parts thereof, said recess being formed by providing upwardly converging side grate barsections 10 intersecting the usual front vertical and bottom horizontal sections 11 and 12 of the grate. It'will be seen that this place as particularly shown by Fig. 1 and is recess 9 and the converging disposition of the grate bars as explained exposes the charge of fuel at the center for draft purposes or entrance of the air thereinto.

The heat radiating organization of the improved structure comprises a main inclosure 13 which in the main is of box-like form and provided with a rear step or vertical extension .14 of less width than the main inclosure, the said main inclosure- 13 being secured to the frame 5 over the cross bar 6, the upper or top portion of the ver tioalextension 14 terminating coincidentally with the top of the opening of the fire place which communicates as usual with an upper smoke flue or chimney 15 having a rear ledge 16 on which is secured the rear end of a baffle plate 17. This baffle plate extends upwardly and outwardly across the opening 18 between the extension 14 and the lower main inclosure 13 and rests on the bar 6 and has therein an opening 19 to permit the circulation of the products of combustion from the fireplace into the improved heating device. It will be observed that the baffle plate 17 closes the fire place at the point where it extends thereover and prevents the products of combustion from passing from the grate upwardly into the chimney or smoke flue 15. The main inclosure 13 at the top and inadvance ofthe extension 14 is formed with a top slot 21 having a surrounding upstanding flange 22, and in the form of the improved heating device as particularly shown by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a radiating elbow 23 comprising a rear comparatively short member 24 and an outer longer member 25 is applied on the inclosure and extension. The outer longer member 25. of this radiating elbow 23 is open at the bottom and of such dimensions as to fit over and frictionally engage the flange 22 in a manner similar to the application of a stove pipe to a heating or cooking stove and the lower end of the shorter member 24 is in like manner open and is provided with a wire gauze screen 26 extending full length and width thereof, the lower open end of the shorter member 24 being fitted over an elongated slot or opening 27 in the top of the extension 14 and whereby circulating com-- munication for the products of combustion islestablished between the lower main inclosure 13 and the top of the extension of the latter. The wire gauze partition or covering 26 prevents the passage of burning pa per or similar material into the chimney or smoke flue 17 and thereby prevents ignition of the deposits in the said chimney or smoke flue, and also emission of burning products of-combustion from the top of the chimney. The radiating elbow 23 and the main inclosure 13 stand out into the apartment a suitable distance beyond the front of the fire.- place above the grate as shown particularly of continuous .form, openings or slots 21 and 27 respectively of the main inclosure 13 and extension 14 thereof may be replaced by a plurality of circular openings 28 as shown by Figs. 7 and 8, and instead of the continuone sheet metal radiating. elbow 23, a series of separate elbow pipes 29 are provided and connected to the openings 28, and at a suit-- able distance below the openings 28 .in the top of the extension 14, a suitable slide damper 30 is mounted and controls communication of the separate pipes 29 with thesaid main inclosure in a manner similar to the damper 24. heretofore described. In the modified structure the battle plate is used as in the first form described and is in all respects similar in construction thereto. will be understood that all of the dampers are operable from theexterior of the drum and elbows.

In. the operation of the improved heating device or attachment, the damper or slide between either the continuous sheet metal radiating elbow 23 or the modified structure otthe latter consisting of the series of pipes 29 which also provides radiating elbow means opened and the products of combustion including the heated gases rise from the grate 7 and pass into the rear open side of the main inclosure 13 and then upwardly through the opening or slot .21 or through theplurality otopenings 28 in the modified structure, as the case may be, into either the elbow 23 or the series of pipes 29 and then into'the'top or upper side of the ext-ension 14 and thence toand outwardly through the chimney or smoke fiuc 15. The said main inclosure and the elbow means are heated by; the circulation of the products of combustion therethrough and the heat therefrom is radiated into the apartment with material advantages as .aheating means and whereby the heat units oi the fuel in the grate may be more fully and practically utilized. At any time the dannpersbetween the lower or main inclosure 13 and theextension 14 may be regulated to control the circulation or passage of the products of combustion throughthe continuous elbow 23 or the elbow means comprising the series of pipes 29, and as heretofore explained. the wiregauze in the lower open end of the shortmember 24 of the elbow 23 will check or stop the passage of burning paper or other portions of the products of combustion into the chimney or smoke flue 15- and Itv of combustion into the escape chimney or" smoke flue will serve at times as a deflector to throw the heated air back or downwardly and out through the openportion ofthe fire place above the grate. All'the parts of the improved. device may be readily installed. in operative position at a comparatively small expense, particularly when considered in a comparative sense relatively to the more complete utilization of the heat units of a given amount or charge of fuel deposited in the grate. The upper radiating elbow or elbow means is materially advantageous in heating the air adjacent thereto as the air may readily circulate between the front and rear portions thereof and become thoroughly heated.

It will be understood that theproportions, dimensions and minor details of the several parts of the heating attachment may be modified to adapt the same for application to fire places of difierent dimensions and form without in the least modifying the function of the components of the heating device or departing from the scope of the.

appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a heating device of the class specified, the combination with an open fire place having a chimney, or escape passage and grate,

of a baflle plate, secured therein above the grate and extending outwardly beyond the front thereof to shut off direct communic-a-. tion with the chimney, amain heating inclosure projected outwardly from the upper part of the fire place and open at the rear and having an inner vertical extension closed to the lower main body of the main inclosure by ,the baflie plate which extends thereinto, elbow heat radiating means connected tovthe outer top portion of the drum and the top of the extension, and damper means between the outer portion of the drum and the elbow heat radiating means.

2. A heating device for application to an open fireplace above a grate, consisting of a main heating inclosure with an inner vertical extension of less width than the main inclosure, the main inclosure and its extension being fully open at the rear, the extensionbeing separated from the main inclosure, elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the main heating inclosure and extending over and connected to the top of the said extension, and means for controlling communication between the main inclosure andw the extension.

3. A heating device for application to an open fireplace above a grate, consisting of ainain inclosure with an inner vertical extension,the inclosure and extension being open at the rear, elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the products of combustion I therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the inclosure and to the top of the extension, a baffle plate extending into and separating the extension from the inclosure,

and damper means between the elbow heat radiating meansandthe outer portion of :the inclosure.

4. A heating devlce for application to an open fire place above a grate, consisting of a main inclosure with an extension at the inner part thereof extending above'the top of the inclosure and providing an angular step construction, the inclosure and extension being fully open at the rear side and the opening being also primarily continuous withrespect to the two parts, the extension being separated from the inclosure, elbow heat radiating'means applied at one terminal to the top of the inclosure and extending upwardly and directed over and connected to the top of the extension for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough from the inclosure to the top of the extension, the part of the elbow heat radiating means connected to the top of the extension having a wire gauze screen between the same and the extension, and means for controlling communication between the inclosure and the elbow means.

5. A heating device for application to an. open fireplace above a grate, consisting o a main inclosure disposed horizontally and of substantial rectangular shape and extending horizontally across the upper portion of the fireplace, the said inclosure being provided. with an inner vertical extension and the inclosure and extension being primarily fully open at the rear, and elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the products of combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of the main inclosure and to the top ofthe extension, a space being formed between the front of the extension and the adjacent part of the elbow heat radiating means and also through said latter means, the part of the elbow heat radiating means connected to the top of the extension having a controlling damper therein, and a baffle plate extending outwardly from the fireplace into the main inclosure and'cutting oif communication between the said main inclosure and the ex-. tension.

6. In a heatingdevice of the class described, the combination with an open fire place having a chimney and a grate, of a bafiie plate disposed between the grate and the chimney to shut off direct communica tion with the chimney, a portion of the bafile projecting outwardly beyond the front of the fireplace, enclosures "on opposite sides of the projectingportion in communication with the fireplace and the chimney respectively, and heat radiating means between said enclosures.

7. In a heating device of the class described, the combination with an open fireplace having a chimney and a grate, of a baffle plate disposed between the grate and the chimney and having a substantially horizontal portion projecting outwardly beyond the front of the fireplace, air enclosure below the said projecting portion communieating with the fireplace, an enclosure above the said projecting portion communicating with thechimney, and heat radiating means between said enclosures, said radiating means extending upwardly from both enclosures.

8. In a. heating device of the class described, the combination with an open fireplace having a chimney and a grate, of a bafiie plate disposed between the grate and the chimney and having a substantially horizontal portion projecting outwardly beyond the front of the fireplace, an enclosure below the said projecting portion extendin'g across the fireplace and in communication therewith, an enclosure above the said projecting portion extending across the fireplace and in communication with the chimney and a plurality of radiating elements between the said enclosures.

9. In a heating device of the class described, the combination with an open fireplace having a. chimney and a grate, of a ba'flie plate disposed between the grate and the chimney and having a substantially horizontal portion projecting outwardly beyond the front of the fireplace, an enclosure below the said projecting portion and co-extensive therexvith in communication with the fireplace, an enclosure above the said projectin'g portion disposed rearward'ly of the front edge of said projection in comn'iun-ication with the chin'm'ey, and radiating means 'the front of the connected with the first enclosure through 'zontal portion projecting outwardly beyond low the said pro ecting portion and co-extensive therewith 1n commumcation with the fireplace, an enclosure above the said fi'replac'e, an enclosure bescribed, the combination with an open fir'eplace having a chimney and a grate, of a heatadiating device comprising a substantially horizontal bafile plate constructed to shut off direct communication with the chimney, an enclosure extending downwardly from the front end of the bailie plate and open to the fireplace; an enclosure above the baflle plate near the front end thereof and heat radiating means between the two enclosures, the upper'enclosure'opening rearwardly to the chimney and means for supporting the baiile plate, the enclosures and the radiating means at the upper end of the fireplace, so that the main part of the fireplace is unobstructed.

12. A radiating attachment for an open fireplace, comprising a baflle plate, an en} closure extendin g downwardly fromfonefenfd of the ba-Hie plate and open.- toward the other end of the plate, an enclosi'ire above the baffie plate and the first enclosure and likewise open toward the other end of the plate and radiating means betwee-nfthe two enclosures extending upwardly therefrom.

JAMES s. NICHOl-JS. 

